Dual wheel grinder for metal workpiece

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a polishing device ( 1 ) for polishing a metal product ( 2 ), in particular a continuously cast slab, billet, or block. The aim of the invention is to achieve a high polishing rate when said metal products are polished. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the polishing device ( 1 ) has at least two polishing assemblies ( 3, 4 ), each polishing assembly ( 3, 4 ) having a mounting ( 5, 6 ) for a polishing unit ( 7, 8 ). A polishing unit has at least one polishing disk ( 9, 10 ) and a driving motor ( 11, 12 ) that drives the polishing disk ( 9, 10 ). The polishing disks ( 9, 10 ) are arranged such that the rotational axes (A, B) of said disks run parallel to each other.

The invention relates to a grinding apparatus for grinding a metal workpiece, in particular a continuously cast slab, a billet, or an ingot.

After continuous casting, continuously cast workpieces, slabs in particular, are generally given a surface treatment in order to achieve a sufficient level of quality during the subsequent processing of the workpiece. When the continuously cast slabs are ground, the slab is typically moved with a reciprocating motion back and forth longitudinally under a grinding apparatus (grinder). At the end of each stroke, the grinding apparatus is stepped transversely until the entire surface of the slab has been ground. The slab is supported on a grinding table resting lengthwise on its broad face.

EP 0 053 274 describes a generic apparatus as known in the prior art for grinding slabs.

In so-called HP grinding (high-pressure grinding) of the slab, a sufficient grinding removal rate must be achieved for reasons of economic efficiency. The material-removal rate can be increased here by increasing the width of the grinding wheel if the driving output of the motor is increased simultaneously (for example from 315 kW to 630 kW while doubling the width of the grinding wheel); this approach thus allows the specific motor output to be maintained as the same level relative to the width of the grinding wheel. However, the grinding wheel is limited by the strength of the binder of the grinding wheel; it is not possible in practice to use grinding wheels greater than 150 mm in width.

A known approach is therefore to employ, in particular, two grinding wheels side-by-side on a grinding spindle. The disadvantage of this approach, however, is the fact that contact zone between grinding wheel and workpiece to be ground wanders across the width of the grinding wheel, and in fact the contact zone wanders periodically back and forth from each outer edge of the grinding wheel to the center of the grinding wheel due to the reversing of the slab. Widening the contact zone and increasing the drive output thus do not necessarily produce the desired increase in the material removal rate, but may result merely in increasing the service life of the grinding wheel(s).

As a result, it cannot be assumed that using double grinding wheels on a drive spindle will also yield a doubling of the material removal rate.

The object of this invention is therefore to create a grinding apparatus in which the above-descried increase in the drive output directly results in an increase in the material removal rate. Accordingly, the purpose is to improve the economic efficiency of the grinding process when grinding metal workpieces such as slabs, billets, and ingots.

This object is achieved according to the invention by an approach wherein the grinding apparatus includes at least two grinders, each grinder includes a mount for the grinding unit, each grinding unit includes at least one driven grinding wheel, and the grinding wheels are arranged such that their axes of rotation run parallel to each other.

Each mount is preferably pivotal about an axis that is parallel to the rotation axis of the grinding wheel and has an offset from this wheel. Means can be provided here to allow the offset to be adjusted between the pivot axis of the mount and the rotation axis of the grinding wheel. These means for setting the offset can be advantageously provided in the form of an eccentric.

In alternative solution, provision is made whereby each mount includes a linear guide by which the grinding wheel can be displaced perpendicular to the rotation axis of the grinding wheel, and preferably horizontally.

Each grinder can furthermore include a biaser to apply a predefined pressure of the grinding wheel against the metal workpiece, the biaser comprising, in particular, a grinding-pressure-cylinder-piston system.

The grinders can be pivoted together about an axis that is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the grinding wheels and vertical, the pivot axis being preferably in the region of the grinding wheels, in particular between the grinding wheels of the two grinders.

The grinding wheels are preferably directly next to each other. They can have different grits and/or structures.

Each grinding wheel can be driven by a respective drive motor preferably directly without intermediate gearing or other elements.

The proposed solution achieves the result that increasing the drive output of the grinding apparatus directly produces a proportional increase in the material-removal performance (material removal rate). In other words, it becomes possible to distribute the grinding performance over the grinding wheels in such a way that each grinding wheel has its own separate contact zone.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing. Therein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the grinder of a grinding apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view in direction X of the grinder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a grinding apparatus with two grinders; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the region of the grinding wheels of the grinding apparatus in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a grinder 3, 4 that is a component part of a grinding apparatus 1 that is shown in FIG. 3.

The grinder 3, 4 includes a mount 5, 6 that is comprised of a floating bracket with a counterweight 19. The mount 5, 6 is pivotal about a pivot axis C, D. The grinder 3, 4 includes a grinding unit 7, 8 with grinding wheel 9, 10 driven directly by a drive motor 11, 12. The grinding wheel rotates about a rotation axis A, B.

A biaser 14, which is shown here only schematically, is a piston-cylinder system, and exerts the desired pressing force F on the metal workpiece 2.

Also indicated in outline are means 13 that can change the offset between the pivot axis C, D and the rotation axis A, B. In this case, the rotation axis A, B can be shifted in a horizontal direction H relative to the pivot axis C, D by an eccentric.

The workpiece to be ground, i.e. the metal workpiece 2, is reciprocated back and forth, as indicated by the direction G of motion of workpiece 2.

FIG. 3 shows the entire grinding apparatus 1, again showing the direction G of motion that the workpiece 2 executes during a grinding stroke. It is evident that the two mounts 5, 6, i.e. the two floating brackets, are parallel to each other, and a respective grinding unit 7, 8 each with a grinding wheel 9, 10 is at the end of each of the brackets. The positions of the grinding wheel 9, 10 can be changed in the horizontal direction by the eccentric 14 that is indicated only in outline; i.e., the offset a or b between the pivot axis C or D of the mount 5, 6 relative to the rotation axis A or B of the grinding wheel 9, 10 can be modified slightly. The displacement created by the eccentric 14 in the horizontal direction H is shown at e₁ or e₂. If the two eccentrics of the two mounts 5, 6 are adjusted in opposite directions, as viewed in the horizontal direction H, an offset results for the grinding wheels 9, 10 in the horizontal direction H that is the sum of e₁ and e₂.

In addition, provision is made whereby the entire grinding apparatus 1 can pivot about an axis E that extends in a vertical direction V. The pivot angle relative to the longitudinal axis (extending perpendicular to the pivot axis C, D, and here pointing in the horizontal direction H) is indicated at a and here is 90°. The center of rotation E is located here between the two grinding wheels 9, 10.

FIG. 4 illustrates that the goal is to set the two grinding wheels 9, 10 as close as possible to each other. The grinding wheels 9, 10 are mounted on respective supports 15, 16. The grinding wheels 9, 10 are secured in place by respective fastening rings 17, 18. Only a small gap exists between the two fastening rings 17, 18. The smallest possible offset is thus found between the two grinding wheels 9, 10, which offset is limited by the width of fastening rings 17, 18, and by a small clearance between them.

When, in particular, grinding is performed at an angle α between zero and 90° (preferably, between 45° and 90°), the two grinding wheels 9, 10 grind one behind the other, each with separate contact zones for the workpiece 2.

If the two (or more) grinding wheels are equipped with different grits and/or structures, this advantageously also enables two operations to be effected in parallel simultaneously. The grinding wheel can thus first perform a rough-grinding operation that is followed by the finishing operation that is performed by the grinding wheel with a finer grit.

Direct drive of the grinding wheel is preferably provided, each wheel being mounted on the drive shaft of a respective (electric or hydraulic) drive motor.

Provision can also be made whereby the drive is indirect via gears, V-belts, spindles, etc.

It should be noted in this regard a grinding unit with its own motor is preferably provided for each grinder. It is also conceivable for a single drive motor to drive the at least two grinding wheels in the event the above-referenced indirect drive mode is provided.

If the purpose is to perform a defect grinding operation or another special grinding operation, provision can be made for using only a single grinding wheel.

Each of grinding units 7, 8 can be equipped with more than one grinding wheel 9, 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 grinding apparatus

2 metal workpiece (slab, billet, ingot)

3 grinder

4 grinder

5 mount (floating bracket)

6 mount (floating bracket)

7 grinding unit

8 grinding unit

9 grinding wheel

10 grinding wheel

11 drive motor

12 drive motor

13 means for adjusting the offset (eccentric)

14 biaser (grinding-pressure-cylinder-piston system)

15 support

16 support

17 fastening ring

18 fastening ring

19 counterweight

A rotation axis of grinding wheel

B rotation axis of grinding wheel

C pivot axis of mount

D pivot axis of mount

E pivot axis of grinding apparatus

G direction of motion of the metal workpiece

α angle

a offset

b offset

e₁ eccentricity

e₂ eccentricity

F pressing force

H horizontal direction

V vertical direction 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. An apparatus for grinding a cast metal workpiece, the apparatus comprising: a pair of adjacent mounts; respective grinding wheels immediately adjacent each other and mounted on the mounts for rotation about respective axes that are horizontal, parallel, and offset; and drive means for rotating the wheels about the respective axes when engaging the workpiece.
 12. The grinding apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein each mount is pivotal about an axis that is parallel to the rotation axis of the respective grinding wheel and is offset therefrom.
 13. The grinding apparatus defined in claim 12, further comprising: means for varying an offset between the pivot axes of the mounts and the rotation axes of the respective grinding wheels.
 14. The grinding apparatus defined in claim 13, wherein the means for varying is an eccentric.
 15. The grinding apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein each mount comprises a linear guide on which the grinding wheel can be displaced perpendicular to the rotation axis of the grinding wheel.
 16. The grinding apparatus defined in claim 11, further comprising: respective biasing means for pressing the grinding wheels against the metal workpiece with a predetermined force.
 17. The grinding apparatus defined in claim 16, wherein the biasing means includes a cylinder-piston system.
 18. The grinding apparatus defined in claim 11, further comprising: means for pivoting each of the mounts with the respective wheel about a vertical axis perpendicular to the rotation axes of the grinding wheels.
 19. The grinding apparatus defined in claim 18, wherein the vertical axis is between the grinding wheels.
 20. The grinding apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein the grinding wheels have different grits or structures.
 21. The grinding apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein the drive means includes respective drive motors connected directly to the grinding wheels. 